Hypersensitivity to chironomid larvae in a nonatopic patient: safe diagnosis tools to identify a potent allergen

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Rice-gall midge interactions: Battle for survival.

Gall midges are insects specialized in maneuvering plant growth, metabolic and defense pathways for their benefit. The Asian rice gall midge and rice share such an intimate relationship that there is a constant battle for survival by either partner. Diverse responses by the rice host against the midge include necrotic hypersensitive resistance reaction, non-hypersensitive resistance reaction and gall-forming compatible interaction. Genetic studies have revealed that major R (resistance) genes confer resistance to gall midge in rice. Eleven gall midge R genes have been characterized so far in different rice varieties in India. In addition, no single R gene confers resistance against all the seven biotypes of the Asian rice gall midge, and none of the biotypes is virulent against all the resistance genes. Further, the interaction of the plant resistance gene with the insect avirulence gene is on a gene-for-gene basis. Our recent investigations involving suppressive subtraction hybridization cDNA libraries, microarray analyses, gene expression assays and metabolic profiling have revealed several molecular mechanisms, metabolite markers and pathways that are induced, down-regulated or altered in the rice host during incompatible or compatible interactions with the pest. This is also true for some of the pathways studied in the gall midge. Next generation sequencing technology, gene expression studies and conventional screening of gall midge cDNA libraries highlighted molecular approaches adopted by the insect to feed, survive and reproduce. This constant struggle by the midge to overcome the host defenses and the host to resist the pest has provided us with an opportunity to observe this battle for survival at the molecular level.

Evaluación de los efectos tóxicos de ftalatos sobre poblaciones naturales de Chironomus riparius (Diptera): implicaciones en estudios de ecotoxicidad / Evaluation of the toxic effects of phthalates on natural populations of Chironomus riparius (Diptera): implications for ecotoxicity studies

Los quironómidos, un género de mosquitos no picadores, son organismos centinela en la evaluación de la calidad de las aguas y un modelo de relevancia ecotoxicológica para el estudio de los efectos de contaminantes ambientales. Son todavía muy escasos los trabajos con poblaciones naturales de este organismo en los que se valore la utilidad de biomarcadores moleculares en el análisis de la salud de individuos expuestos a múltiples variables de estrés. Nuestros resultados muestran que exposiciones de larvas de poblaciones naturales de Chironomus riparius a di (2-etilhexil) ftalato (DEHP) y butil bencil ftalato (BBP), dos compuestos incluidos por la ECHA en la lista de sustancias de muy alta preocupación, provocan alteraciones rápidas en la expresión de diferentes genes relacionados con la respuesta celular de estrés (hsp70 y hsc70), la ruta hormonal (EcR y ERR) y los mecanismos de destoxicación (CYP4G), así como en la actividad enzimática de GST. Ambos compuestos provocan respuestas diferentes en estas dianas, especialmente en las exposiciones más prolongadas, y tienen la capacidad de producir efectos tóxicos retardados. Son de especial relevancia los resultados que muestran la alteración de la ruta hormonal de la ecdisona, confirmando la capacidad disruptora endocrina en insectos de estos ftalatos. Por último, existen diferencias respecto a datos previos obtenidos con larvas de laboratorio, tanto en la toxicidad de DEHP y BBP como en el comportamiento de algunas dianas, lo que acentúa la necesidad de llevar a cabo análisis con diferentes poblaciones para conseguir una aproximación más realista a los efectos de contaminantes (AU)

Chironomids, a genus of non-biting midges, are considered sentinel organisms for the evaluation of water quality and an outstanding model in Ecotoxicology for studying the effects of environmental pollutants. In contrast to its widespread use in studies with laboratory cultures, the use of natural populations (chronically exposed to complex mixtures of pollutants in their environment) is still uncommon to assess the usefulness of molecular biomarkers in studying the health of populations under multiple stress conditions. In Chironomus riparius, our results show that both bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) cause rapid alterations in the activity of GST enzyme as well as in the expression profile of various genes related to cell stress response (hsp70 and hsc70), to the hormonal route (EcR and ERR) and to detoxification mechanisms (CYP4G). Both compounds cause different responses to these targets, especially in longer exposures, and have the ability to produce delayed toxicity. The alteration of the ecdysone hormone pathway in our experiments has special relevance, since it proves that both compounds are endocrine disruptors in insects. Finally, this study shows differences with previous data obtained with laboratory cultures in both the toxicity of these phthalates and the behavior of some targets, which emphasizes the need of carrying out studies with different populations to get a more realistic approach to the effects of contaminants (AU)

Non-chemical control of leaf curling midges and sawflies in berries and currants.

The susceptibility of larvae of the leaf curling midge, Dasineura plicotrix, for entomopathogenic nematodes, predatory mites and rove beetles was studied in the laboratory. The results showed that the leaf curling midge larvae were unaffected by the nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsoe and S. feltiae. The predatory mite (Hypoaspis aculeifer) and the rove beetle (Atheta coriaria) were very effective in predating the larvae when continuously exposed. However, in a soil substrate the control of larvae was less successful. The vigorous burrowing behaviour of the larvae facilitates their escape from predators. This was enhanced by the formation of a cocoon consisting of soil and sand particles. The effects of the foliar fertilizer magnesium sulphate (bitter salt) were studied on gooseberry sawfty Nematus ribesii. The experiments showed that magnesium sulphate has a good residual action on eggs and neonate larvae. Also, an effect on the egg laying behaviour of the females was observed. The experiments showed that magnesium sulphate has a potential as a control agent for gooseberry sawflies.